A WIDOW whose husband disappeared in one of Britain's worst fishing disasters has paid tribute to her partner after he died of a heart attack.

Sheila Doone, of Sackville Gardens, Brierfield, found love with Ernest Green 17 years after her husband, John Doone, disappeared when trawler the Gaul sank in February 1974.

But the couple were never able to marry as a death certificate was never issued for radio operator Mr Doone.

In 2002 a registrar said that Mrs Doone would have to divorce her husband as there was insufficient evidence that he had died.

This was believed to be because a sighting of Mr Doone was claimed in a bar in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in 1978.

However this was later dismissed as a case of mistaken identity at a government enquiry.

Mrs Doone said she met Mr Green at a sequence dance at the Popular Club, Accrington, in 1991.

She said he had provided inspirational support for her during the subsequent govern-ment inquiry into the sinking.

Mrs Doone said she was denied her last chance at happiness, having spent 30 years grieving, because she could not prove her husband was dead.

The 64-year-old mother-of-three said: "I couldn't get a death certificate because there was no body so Ernest and I could not get married.

"It was upsetting but we couldn't do anything about it but just get on with it.

"He used to drive me to the inquiries because I couldn't drive and gave me so much support over the years."

Mr Green, 74, a retired builder, died last Thursday after he came in for this tea.

Mrs Doone said: "He came in for his tea and just sat down - that was it. It was a silent heart attack where he died without pain.

"He was just a lovely man, so helpful and kind. He was always there and we had 16 good years together.

"He loved working in the house repairing things."

A funeral will take place at Burnley Crematorium on Monday October 29 and people are welcome to pay their respects.